Posture meter



' June 28; 1938. F. s. WILLIAMS 2,122,78

POSTURE METER Filed Sept. 22, 1936 1 I 1 f I l l l6 1, 32 INVENTOR.

FRED 5. WlLLlAMS.

Patented June 28, 1938 UNITED "STATES POSTUR-E BIETER Fred S. Williams, Trumbull, Conn, assignor to Dorothy C. Williams, Trumbull, Conn.

Application .September 22, 1936, Serial No. 101,929

18 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in testing or measuring apparatus and has particular relation to a means for measuring and indicating disalignment of the joints of the human body.

n An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated andwhich is of simple construction, easy to operate and accurate. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all I such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

, In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the present apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof with parts broken away;

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through an edge portion of a platform employed; Fig. 5 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing the details of a rod forming part of the apparatus; and V Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a hingelikejoint employed in the rod of Fig. 5.

, Referring in detail-to the drawing, the present apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a posture meter, is shown as comprising a base generally designated Hi. The base is a box-like structure including side walls I2, l3 and M of which the walls H and I2 comprise respectively an end wall and the rear wall. Within the base in spaced relation to the end wa1ls|| and I3 are partitioning or supporting members I5 and I6. while substantially similar members I1 and |8are within the base in spaced relation to the front and rear walls I4 and I2 respectively.

At the inner sides of and flush with the upper edges of the members l5, l6, l1 and H! are braces l9. These braces together with the upper edges -of the respective members, receive and removably support a platform on which a patient may stand and as here disclosed a metal angle member 2| extends about the edge of such platform with its upper horizontal portion spaced slightly above the-upper surface of the platform. Foot position indicator strips 22, 23, 24 and are disposed on the upper surface of the platform 20 and of these strips those numbered 22 and 23- extend between the front and rear edges of the I platform and comprise a pair while the strips 24 and 25 comprise a second pair extending crosswise with respect to strips 22 and 23 and from end to end of the platform. The ends of the strips simply extend under the horizontal flanges of the angle members 2| so that each of said strips is laterally adjustable independent of the othera 5 strips. 7 Y

Braces 26 are'located at the inner sides of the walls of the base and flush with the upper edges of such walls. Channel members 21 span the upper edges of the walls and also span the braces .10 26. Along one end the platform is spaced from the channel membersleaving a slot 28 and along its rear edge the platform is also spaced from the channel member thereby providing a slot 29.

Between the member I8 and the rear wall I2 015 the bottom 30 of the base is provided with guide rails 3| and 32. A similar guide rail 33 is carried by a part 34 secured to the upper portion I8 and yet another guide rail 35 is carried by the brace 26 on the rear wall l2 of the base. A'pair ,20 of blocks 36 and 31 are mounted on theguide rails 3| and 33 for independent adjustment along the same and each block includes a portion extending under the slot 29 and carrying a socket member 38 extending upwardly through such slot for the reception of vertically extending rods 39 and 4|] respectively. Obviously, by engaging the members 38 the blocks may be shifted, independently of one another, along the guide rails 3| and. 33.

Mounted on the guide rails 32 and 35 are blocks 4| and 42 adjustable along such rails independent of one another and independent of the blocks 36 and 31. A horizontal slot 43 is formed in the rear wall I2 and may, if desired, be bound by a 5 facing strip 44. Extending through such slot and into the blocks 4| and 42, or secured to such blocks in any other suitable manner, are shanks 45 and 46 provided respectively with hand pieces 41 and 48 adapted to be manipulated to move the shanks;- along the slot 43 and thus adjust the blocks4| and 42 along the rails 32 and 35.

Carried by the blocks 4| and 42, and extending upwardly through the slot 29 are socket members 49 each at its upper end mounting the similar rods 50 and 5|, a detailed description of one of which will, it is believed, suffice for both. As shown best in Fig. 5 the rod 50 is sectional comprising a plurality of hinge-like joints 52, 53 and 54 and comprising telescopic joints 55, 56 and 51 arranged one above each of said hinge-like joints.

.The sections have frictional engagement at the telescopic joints so that they will remain in the like joints decreases in size as it is a step further above the base. This is to make the apparatus of better appearance and hasnothing to do with its functioning and, if desired, the rod may be of the same diameter throughout its length and all of the hinge-like joints may be of the same size.

As the hinge-like joints are all of the same CQl'lvstruction, a description of the joint 52 alone will,

it is believed, be sufficient.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 the joint 52 comprises a socket member 58 receiving the upper end portion of the vertical socket member 49 and a socket member 59 'receiving the lower end portion of the rod section 60. Members 58 and 59 are connected by a pivot 6| and have some frictional engagement in their portions about the pivot whereby they will remain in various positions of angular adjustment. Screws 62 secure a plate 63 to the joint section 58 and this plate is graduated along its upper edge 64 and such graduations are to be read in conjunction with a pointer 65 carried by the rod section 6|]. With this arrangement any angular relationship between the rod sections 49 and 60, due to movement of the joint section 59 relative to the joint section 58, will be indicated on the 'plate 63. The purpose of this arrangement at the various hinge-like joints will later be set forth.

Between the end Wall H and the inner member l5 a guide rail '66 is mounted on the bottom of the base and a companion guide rail 61 is mounted on the brace 26. Adjustable along these guide rails is a block 68 to which is attached a shank 69 extending through a slot '59 in wall ii and about which slot may be one of the facing strips '44. On the outer end of the shank 69 is a hand piece H by means of which the block '68 may bemoved or adjusted along the guide rails 66 and 61. Carried by the block 68 and extending up through the slot 28 are a. pair of rods 12 and T3 of which the rod 12 is solid or without joints as in the case of the rods 39 and 46 while the rod '13 is of the same construction as the rods 50 and 5| being provided with hinge-like joints and with telescopic joints to provide for adjustments as will appear. Obviously, the rods 1-2 and 13 being both mounted by the block 68 mustbe adjusted along the slot 28 together on manipulation of the hand piece 1|.

In using the apparatus a patient stands on the platform 20 with his heels or toes toward the slot 29. The guide strips 24 and 25 are positioned to be under the heels and the balls of the feet of the patient and the strips 22 and 23 are adjusted the distance apart that the patients feet should be. Then the patient stands with his feet along the strips 22 and 23 and with the balls of his feet on the strip 25 and with the strip 24 under and in line with his ankle joints. Next the blocks 36 and 31 are adjusted to locate the rods 39 and 40 extending upwardly at the rear or front of the patients legs and the blocks 4| and 42 are adjusted to bring the rods 59 and 5| into alignment with the rods 39 and 49.

Thereafter, the block 68 is shifted to move the rods 12 and 13 along the slot 28 to align such rods with the side of the patients leg. This adjustment also aligns the rods 12 and 13 with the strip 24. This correctly positions the parts and from the side, the rod 12, which may be in one piece, should align with the various joints of the patients frame, as the ankle, knee and hip. Similarly as viewed from the rear or'front the same joints of the frame should align with-the rods '39 and 40 carried by the blocks-36 and 31.

Now the adjustable rods 50, 5| and 13 are adjusted to locate a hinge-like joint at the ankle, knee and hip of the patient and if desired, the rods may include additional hinge-like joints and may extend for the length of the body of the patient having, for example, a hinge-like joint for the shoulder. Due to the telescopic joints between the various hinge-like joints any neces sary adjustments may readily be made so as to dispose a hinge likejoint in alignment with each joint of the patients frame.

Now the operator adjusts the various hinge- 'likejoints to have the portions of the rods between such joints follow the bones of the patients frame. For example, the hinge-like joint 52 at the ankle is adjusted to have the rod section 60 angularly related to the rod section or portion '49 whereby the section 6|] in the case of the rod 13 may bo -extending forwardly at an incline or rearwardly as the case may be. The various sections of'the rods and 5| may need no adjustment in which case the frame structure of the patient is aligned but if such frame is not aligned then the proper adjustments are made to have the various sections of such rods between the hinge-like joints follow the various bone sections of the patients frame.

-'When all adjustments have been made the adjustable rods 59, 5| and 13 have their various sections or the portions between their hinge-like joints following the frame of the patient and such rods show whether the patients frame is properly aligned and if not show the disalignment exactly as it exists. The scales at the hinge-like joints show the degree of disalignmentin each case and with such information at hand the proper-authority may advise the patient how to correct the fault. The rods 39, 49 and 12 are not essential and may be omitted although such rods are of assistance in that they may be used 6| may be hollow whereby an operator may pass a suitable marker through it to mark the patients joint and to make sure that the hinge-like joint is really aligned with the joint of the patients frame.

Having thus set forth the nature of my in vention, what I claim is:-

1. In a posture-meter, a base including a platform'on which a patient may stand, supporting form whereby portions of the rod may be dis- "posed in angular relationship.

*2. Ina posture-meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a support-. -ing means on the base, a rod extending vertically from said means and projecting substantially above said platform, a joint in said rod above said platform whereby a portion of the rod may be 1 disposed angularly, and a vertically adjustable connection in said rod at the upper side of said joint.

. 3. In a posture-meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a supporting means on the base, a rod extending vertically from said means and projecting substantially above the platform, and said rod above said platformincluding a series of independently vertically adjustable sections and an angularly adjustable joint between each of said sections.

4. In a posture-meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a supporting means on said base, means whereby said supporting means is adjustable along an edge of the platform, a rod extending vertically from said means, and a joint in said rod whereby por tions thereof may be located in angular relations pv 5. In a posture-meter, a base including a platform on which .a patient may stand, supporting means on thebase, a vertically extending rod carried by saidmeans and projecting above said platform, a joint in said rod above the platform whereby portions of the rod may be disposed in angular relation, and means on said rod at said joint to indicate the degree of the angular relationship of said portions.

6. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a removable platform on which a patient may stand, a block in the base at one edge of the platform and adjust- I able therealong, a rod carried by said block and extending vertically therefrom, and a joint in said rod whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relation.

7. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a pair of blocks in said base at one edge of the platform and independently adjustable therealong, a rod carried by each of said blocks and extending vertically therefrom, and a joint in each of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relationship.

8. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a pair of blocks in said base at one edge of the platform and independently adjustable therealong, a rod carried by each of said blocks and extending vertically therefrom, and a joint in one of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relationship.

9. In a posture-meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a supporting means projecting substantially above said platform on the base, a pair of rods above the platform extending vertically from said means, a joint in one of said rods whereby a portion of said rod may be disposed angularly, and a-vertical adjustable connection in said rod I at the upper side of said joint.

10. In a posture meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a supporting means on the base, means whereby said supporting means is adjustable along an edge-of said platform, a pair of rods extending vertically from said means, a joint in one of said rods whereby a portion thereof may be disposed angularly, and a vertical adjustable connection in said rod at the upper side of said joint.

11. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a block in the base at one edge of the platform and adjustable therealong, a pair of blocks in the base at another edge of the platform and independently adjustable therealong, a vertically extending rod carried by each of said blocks and projecting above the platform, and a joint in each of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relationship.

12. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a block in the base at one edge of the platform and adjustable therealong, a pair of blocks in the base at another edge of the platform and independently adjustable therealong, a vertically extending rod carried by each of said blocks and projecting above the platform, a joint in each of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular readjustable therealong, a rod carried by each of said blocks and extending vertically therefrom, a joint in each of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relationship, and guide rails in said base and along which said blocks are adjustable.

14. The combination as in claim 11 including a one piece indicator rod associated with each of said jointed rods.

15. In a posture meter, a base including a platform on which a patient may stand, a supporting means on the base, means whereby said supporting means is adjustable along an edge of said platform, a rod extending Vertically from said means, joints in said rod whereby portions thereof may be disposed angularly, a vertically adjustable connection in said rod at the upper side of each of said joints, and graduations on said rod whereby after each vertical adjustment the distance between the joints may be readily determined.

16. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a block in the base at one edge of the platform and adjustable therealong, a pair of blocks in the base at another edge of the platform and independently adjustable therealong, a vertically extending rod carried by each' of said blocks and projecting above the platform, a joint in each of said rods whereby portions thereof may be disposed in angular relationship, foot position indicator strips on the upper surface of said platform, and said strips adjustable laterally toward and from one another.

1'7. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, foot position indicator strips on the upper surface of said platform, said strips arranged in pairs with the strips of one pair crossing those of the other pair, and the strips of the said pairs adjustable laterally toward and from one another.

18. In a posture-meter, a base comprising a box-like structure including a platform on which a patient may stand, a pair of foot position indicator strips on the upper surface of said platform, and said strips adjustable laterally toward and from one another.

FRED S. WILLIAMS. 

